Responding to my post on District 9, a few e-mailers have made comments such as this:

I’m with you on the movie, but I saw MNU more as a representation of the UN than a defense contractor…..
You know… white vehicles… corruption… incompetency…multi-national….
I saw the movie more like a statement as to the total ineptness of the UN than anything else.

I wondered about this as well. As an acronym, “MNU” is suspiciously close to “U.N.” Ultimately, however, I think the movie makes it clear that MNU (Multi-National United) is a private company. And this viral-marketing site clinches the case.